Dining Out: Special sauce at Smitty's Place a taste of summer

Jim Bobel/JBobel@morningjournal.com
Stephanie Forthofer in her Smitty's Restaurant in Elyria.

People from all over the country will recognize the name Smitty’s if you are wearing one of its T-shirts.

Smitty’s Place is the burger place in Elyria “where friends meet,” according to owner Stephanie Forthofer, owner of Smitty’s Place.

Established in 1934 by George Smith, Forthofer has owned Smitty’s for 22 years with her father Steve Frank. Forthofer’s parents bought the place back in 1992 and Smitty’s is celebrating its 80th birthday this year.

Those who visit Smitty’s can enjoy eating in the dining room, the patio or the bar.

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“There is definitely a family environment here,” Forthofer said. “It feels like family when you walk in.”

And at Smitty’s there are a lot of regulars that come through the door.

“You come as a stranger and leave as a friend,” she said.

The most popular item on the menu is the Smitty Burger, which is a double decker made with special Smitty sauce, lettuce and cheese on a sesame seed bun.

“The special sauce is mayonnaise-based,” Forthofer said. “It’s really good. People love it; it definitely has its following.”

Even though Smitty’s is a burger place, the restaurant also offers other items such as wraps and wings.

The restaurant used to be on Broad Street and at the time the owners couldn’t make fries. For a side, customers got Thomasson Chips, but once the restaurant moved to 368 E. Bridge St., they started making fries.

Forthofer said they are trying to do things differently daily, weekly and monthly. She said customers sometimes change it up on what they want to eat, so Smitty’s wants to do that as well.

And Forthofer said every year Smitty’s tries to update the exterior of the restaurant. Soon it will have a new sign outside.

“It’s their money, they’re using it here,” she said. “We want to always keep the place nice.”

Smitty’s also had a special customer on Jan. 22, 2010: President Barack Obama.

During Obama’s hometown tours he went to local businesses. The Secret Service called City Hall and asked what local businesses the president could visit — Smitty’s was on the list.

Forthofer said they were notified 20 minutes before his arrival. When Obama walked through the back door, a crowd of press poured into the front door.

“It was really cool and it was phenomenal coverage for us,” she said. “It really opened people up to Smitty’s”

Now, customers of Smitty’s can enjoy the Presidential Burger. The burger comes with lettuce, tomato and mustard.

“He doesn’t like mayo,” she added.

A plaque is now on the seat that the president sat on. It is located in the dining room.

“We saw an increase in business that year, but each year we kept increasing,” Forthofer said.